Knowing Your Suits – Quality V Quantity

Knowing Your Suits – Quality V Quantity

If you’ve been invited to an important such as a christening, a wedding or maybe you’re simply looking to sharpen up for the office.; a suit becomes a necessary investment.  well-designed tailoring can last you 20 plus! whereas a cheap suit is almost guaranteed to need replacing in a couple of years.

What are the dead giveaways of a quality suit? And, of equal importance, how can you make sure people know that you’re wearing the best. CT Shirts, suppliers of Grey suits, elaborate further.

The materials are key

When buying a suit, you don’t want to buy the first thing you see. You should consider the fabrics and materials that went into the crafting of said suit.

Suits crafted with natural fibres are what you should look out for instead of those that claim it’s been created with a wool-blend or man-made materials. If you give off a lot of heat, then polyester is not the material for you. This fabric retains an excessive amount of heat, is less breathable and creases much more easily. A suit with 100% wool is absolutely something to look out for — these suits are versatile and ooze comfort. For a lustre look, often silk or mohair (a silk-like material made from the hair of the Angora goat) is added and this gives a luxurious shine to any suit. For extra movement and comfort, a high-quality suit is often made with a small amount of Lycra and this improves its elasticity.

The finery of the material is also a big indicator of the quality which is why the number next to the ‘super’ is something to look out for . The digit is a way of indicating that the wool is of high quality and the higher the number, the finer and lighter the cloth will be.

Plastic buttons are much more prone to breakage and chipping which is something most people would never consider. Just imagine if you brush against a wall or table, it will be the buttons that take the impact. Another high-quality material that is often used for making durable and long-lasting suit buttons is corozo nuts.

How does it flow?

To make the suit truly yours, it must mould to body and take shape over time which is done through the design of your suit.

Some weaves are of higher quality than others but that is something down to personal preference. The flowing patterns are created in the suit by interweaving different shades of threads in various ways. The ‘twill’ weave is stylish — this has a diagonal line of raised fabric and a silk-looking finish. The ‘herringbone’ also gives a smart look— this is an intricate V weave that creates a smooth feel.

A dead giveaway to the quality that the suit has been crafted to is the lining of the fabrics.  Against popular belief that an unlined suit is cheaper than a fully lined one, it takes more time to create an unlined suit as the stitching and cut of the material is exposed. However, lined sleeves improve your ability to slide the jacket on and off.

A closer look

In a lot of cases, shop assistants aren’t made aware how the minute details improve the quality of a suit. It can be the tailor’s own way of integrating quality into their work.

The lapel roll is a huge detail that suggests the quality of a suit. This is the fall and curl of the lapel from the collar to the first button. If the suit is one of many rolled off a production line, it is likely that the lapel will be completely flat against the jacket and the roll will be almost non-existent. In a high-quality suit however, the lapel roll will look like it has been carefully curved — giving the jacket more texture and a better appearance.

If you will be moving around a lot and like to be free, you should look towards a suit with back vents. It’s wise to choose suit jackets with twin back vents on the back of the jacket to improve your flexibility and range of movement.

Stalk loops are also something you should keep an eye out for. These are a traditional tailoring feature which neatly keeps your flower stalk tucked away. Although it may not be a necessary feature for everyone, it shows attention to detail that’s likely to be an indicator of a good suit.

Small details like this are big giveaways as to how your suit has been made so examine everything including the quality of the button holes. Yes, these things really do matter when it comes to the lifespan of your suit. Now you know everything you need to – happy suit shopping!

Sources

https://www.hawesandcurtis.com/blog/style/superior_suits

https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/how-to-spot-a-quality-suit/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/fashion-and-style/10373114/Trade-secrets-what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-suit.html

http://ukmcbo.tumblr.com/post/85115442645/choosing-the-right-suit-lapel